Velocipede



May 2l, 1929. N, H, DAWS 1,713,999

VELOC IPEDE Filed Nov. 9, 192e z sheets-sheet 1 Mh/ l E /NvE/v raf?amllpggmm 39 Naf/mn MEMS,

WITNESS f7 T70 HNEY May 21, 1929. N; H. DAVIS 1,713,999

VELOCIPEDE Filed Nov. 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Egg, 4f.

I H ORA/EX Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED j STA TES PATENT o F-FlcE. y

NATHAN Il-I.l DA'VS, 0F PHLADEIJPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 KEYSTONEi y LANTER-N COMPANY, A CORPORATION NEW JERSEY.

VELOCIPEDE.

Application yfiledNovember 9, y1926. ASerial No. 147,215,

My invention relates to velocipedes in general and provides certain newand useful improvements 1n their construction, which are particularlyadapted for use in the bi-r cycle type thereof, and which serve tomaintain the rear axle at all `times in proper position or alinement inboth horizontal and vertical planes.

VOne object of the inventionA is to provide improved means for adjustingthe rear wheel in the framerelatively to the crankshaft to take up slackin the driving chain so that the latter may be kept running at thepropentension. Y

In the usualV construction this isv accomplished by providing at theends of the rear fork, draw-bolts which engage the opposite ends of therear axle to'adjust its position. Such an arrangement is objectionablein that it requires the independent adjustment of the draw-bolts, whichis troublesome and diflicult to regulate to secure accurately thecorresponding movement of both ends of the axle, and hence is likely toresult in throwing the axle and wheel out of proper alinement in theframe. Y j

Vith my invention this difficulty is eliminated and both ends of theaxle are simultaneously and correspondingly adjusted without disturbingthe proper alinement of the axle in a horizontal plane. kFurthermore,the adjustment may be effected with facility,.while the means employedare simp ple, reliable and not likely to get out of order and `do notimpair the strength and durability of the; frame.

Another' object of the invention is to protures of construction,arrangement and com binations of parts, herein set forth and pointed outinthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodimentv of theinvention and -in which similar letters of referenee'indicate similarparts,` Y

y F igxl is a side elevation of a bicycle embodying my invention. Fig. 2is van enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section of the rear portion ofithe `partly in section showing rear fork and its inner or adjustingfork in juxtaposition.

Figs. 7 and 8fare detail sectional views taken respectively on the lines7-7 of Fig. 4 and 8-8 of F i'g..2.

In the present embodiment of my invention the bicycle comprises -a framel having a longitudinally disposed lower' member or backbone 2,preferably of tubularl form, rigidly secured at its front end toatubular steering-head 3. A steering post 4 is rotatably mounted in thesteering-head and rcarries at its lower end a front fork 5, the sides ofwhich support the axle 6 of a front wheel 7. ,At its upper end thesteering post is equipped with a lhandlebar 8 by means of which thefront wheel is turned.`

The backbone is inclined rearwardly and] downwardly from the steeringhead with its rear` portion preferably substantially straight. Supportedon and upstanding froml the rear portion of the backbone a Y seat column9 which receives and has adjustably mounted. therein a seat ing a saddle11.

The backbone projectsrearwardly beyond the seat` column kand has a rearfork 12 rigidly secured to its rear end in any suitable manner, asn forinstance, by a tubular shank or .sockety member 13 extending forwardlyfrom the crownzlfl of the rear fitted on the backbone. The sides l5 ofthe rear fork project rearwardly from the crowd in transversely spacedrelation with the axis of the fork preferably in substantiallongitudinal alinement with the rear portion of the backbone. In orderto reinforce the post l()V carryfork and elimination of these stressesis particularly important'in a bicycle of the form illustrated in whichthere is no upperbar or brace connect-ing the'xsteering post and theseat column. Moreover, with this straightline drive the stretches of thedriving chain are equi-distant above and below the rearl fork and henceare prevented from striking the same which is likely to happen with thedriving shaft mounted above or below the backbone and out of line withthe same and rear fork.

A U shaped hanger or stand 45 of well known form may be pivoted on theextremities of the rear axle 19 to support the bicycle in uprightposition when it is not in use, the

stand being adapted tolbe swung upwardly above the rear wheel to aninoperative position. As the means for adjusting therear axle areentirely housed Within the rear fork the stand in no wise interferestherewith nor do they interfere kwith the movement of the stand fromoperative to inoperative position or vice versa, as required. Y

The improved means for adjusting the rear axle and the improved meansfor mounting the crankshaft, coact to maintain the rear axle at alltimes in proper position or alinement in both horizontal and verticalplanes. While I have found that their conjoint use, therefore, producesthe best results, they may, however, be employed separately,v ifdesired.

It will be apparent that the herein described improvements may beusefully embodied in various forms of bicycles and other types ofvelocipedes. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the adjusting forkmay be mounted on the outside, instead of the inside, of the coactingfork of the frame, that the arrangement of the adjusting screw and nutsmay be varied and other suitable adjusting means employed, and that thetubular shank or socket member of the rear fork may be formed integralwith the attaching sleeve of the crank-hanger. Various other changes mayalso be made in the form, arrangement and combinations of parts, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the`appended claims. v

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to protect byLetters Patent of the United States 1. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination with a fork and an axle supported by andmovable relatively tothe sides thereof, of an adjusting fork coactingwith said v.first mentioned fork and engaging the ends ofvsaid axle, andmeans for-moving said. adjusting fork relatively to the other forksimultaneously to adjust both ends of theaxle. Y s Y 2. In a deviceofthe character described, the combination with a fork form-edwith slotsand an axle supported in said slots, of

another fork coacting with said -firstmei'itioned fork and engaging theends of said axle, and an adjustable connection-between said forks forsimultaneously adjusting the axle in said slots.

3. In a device of the character described,

the combinationv with a fork formed with slots and an axle supported insaid slots, of another fork coacting with and movable relatively to thefirst mentioned fork and enn gaging the ends of the axle, and a screwthreaded connection between the vcrowns of said forks. f f

4. l In a device of the character described, a pair of coacting forksfitting one within the other, one of said forks being formed in itssides with slots adapted to receive and sup* port an axle, the otherfork being relatively movable and being adapted to engage thc ends ofthe axle opposite said slots,-and an adjustable connection between saidforks.y

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a forkformed in its sides with corresponding longitudinal slots, and an axlesupported in said slots, of an adjusting fork coacting with said firstmenl tioned fork and having its sides engaged with the 'ends of saidaxle opposite the respective slots, and means for moving saidk adjustingfork longitudinally relatively to said first'mentioned fork.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a forkhaving its sides formed withcorresponding slots'and with lateral guidesurfaces adjacent said slots, an axle extending between the sides of thefork and supported in the slots thereof, an adjusting fork coacting withsaid first mentioned fork, and means for moving said adj usting forkrelatively to said first mentioned fork in the direction of said slots,the sides ,of said adjusting fork engaging Vthe ends of the axle andabutting against and riding on the said guide surfaces.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofcoacting forks fitting one within the other, one of said forks beingformed in its sides with longitudinal slots adapted to receive andsupport an axle, and the other fork being relatively movable and havingits sides adapted to engage the axle opposite said slots, and alongitudinally adjustable connection between said forks, the sides ofone of said forks being formed with a longitudinal flange engaging thesides of the other fork.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with abackbone and a rear forli secured to the rear end thereof, of a movablelongitudinally of the sides of said crank-hanger mounted on the backbonein fork, an adjusting fork engaging the ends 10 front of the rear fork,the backbone being of said axle, and a longitudinally adjustable formedWith an opening extending transconnection between saidforks.

5 Versely therethrough, a Crankshaft passing In testimony WhereoLI-havohereunto set transversely through said opening` and .jourmy hand this8th day of November, A. D. naled in the crank-hanger on opposite sides1926.

ot the backbone, anaxle mounted in and NATHAN H. DAVIS.

